Surgical Services

At CHOC Children’s, we specialize in providing our patients—from infants to young adults—with the most state-of-the-art surgical services in our compassionate, family-centered environment. We are the only children’s hospital in Orange County specializing in treating childhood diseases and congenital birth defects. Our pediatric-trained team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists and other specialists use the latest techniques and technology to provide our patients with the most accurate diagnoses and innovative treatments available.

We understand that selecting where a patient will receive surgery is a big decision.

When a child needs a surgery, that child’s needs are very different than those of an adult patient needing the same or similar procedure. At CHOC, we have specialized in pediatric surgery since we welcomed our first patients in 1964. Our experience in exclusively treating children, teens and young adults makes us the experts in pediatric surgery. In fact, our expertise has made us a top transport hospital for pediatric patients in Orange County and ranked us within the top 50 pediatric hospitals in seven different categories according to U.S. News and World Report.

In addition to being experts in the latest surgical methods for pediatric patients, we are dedicated to providing efficient, compassionate patient- and family-centered care. At CHOC, it is important that our patients still feel and act like kids while dealing with the adult issues of surgery and that their families get the support they need to focus on what is most important: patient recovery.

Social and emotional support developed especially for children and their families.

Once at CHOC, we are committed to continually communicating with patients and their families so that they understand what is happening every step of the way during their time in the procedure center. Our knowledgeable nurses and skilled surgeons and anesthesiologists are dedicated to making sure that each patient’s family is provided with the most accurate information throughout the surgical process.

Surgery Guides

At CHOC Children’s, we understand that the hospital can be a scary, unpredictable place and that children better cope with hospital stays when they trust the hospital staff and feel safe. Our associates build positive relationships with patients and their families while keeping the overall atmosphere calm and child friendly. We do everything possible to make our hospital a home away from home during both inpatient and outpatient surgery and procedures.

Our comprehensive guides to the surgery process are intended to help patients and their caregivers feel confident and prepared for an upcoming surgical procedure. We encourage caregivers to read through all of the guides – including the After Surgery Guide – before the patient’s surgery. We also encourage you to print pages you may find helpful for reference as you prepare for the child’s procedure. This information pertains to all patients, from those undergoing outpatient noninvasive procedures to those undergoing major, invasive inpatient surgeries.

This guide provides the information families need to ensure that everything is in place before the patient’s surgery. Whether a child is having an elective outpatient procedure or a major invasive surgery requiring an inpatient stay, all procedures and surgeries should be taken very seriously. This information should not take the place of information or instructions provided by the child’s surgeon.

Caring for a patient after surgery is serious business, regardless of the type of procedure. It is important to follow all of the instructions provided by the patient’s health care team. Our after surgery guide can help parents prepare for what to expect after surgery but should never replace the patient’s physician's at-home care instructions.

Friends and family can be a great resource during difficult times. Through our years of experience caring for children and their families, we have established visitor guidelines that are best suited to support the child and his or her family while at CHOC.

In the operating rooms at CHOC Children’s, our surgeons use the very latest technology to ensure the best outcomes for young patients.

Using the technology integration system iSuite by Stryker, CHOC is the first children’s hospital in the region to have a fully integrated operating room. Learn more in this blog post.

Our state-of-the-art surgery and procedure rooms are designed to provide patients with the very best in safety, precision and efficiency. Learn more about the equipment in our ORs.

Minimally invasive surgery refers to any surgical technique that does not require a large incision. Learn more about our minimally invasive techniques.

CHOC was the first pediatric hospital in California to offer robotic surgery for children. Learn more about our robotic techniques.

Tidwell Procedure Center

Tidwell Procedure Center

CHOC Children’s is proud to offer one of the most technologically advanced and compassionate pediatric surgical experiences in California at the Tidwell Procedure Center. Patients must arrive at CHOC Children’s Hospital two hours before surgery is scheduled to begin. Caregivers should park at the main entrance of the hospital at the valet stand. The valet stand opens at 5:15 a.m. and the valet parking and service is complimentary for one car.

Patient and Family Resources

CHOC Children’s provides family-centered care because we understand that when one family member is ill or is in need of surgery, the entire family is impacted. In an effort to provide our young patients and their families with compassion along with their care, we are proud to provide a variety of resources to help families stay strong and allow children to remain kids.

Whether a child will be at CHOC for the day or staying in our inpatient unit after surgery, it's nice to know the hotels, restaurants, stores and other services near the hospital. Download our Area Resource Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surgery

Patients and caregivers often have a lot of questions regarding surgery. We are proud to offers answers to some of the most popular questions received by our nurses and physicians.